Electric cooking device



SQP@ l'935 J.c. BRoGDoN ET A1. y 2,052,919

ELECTRIC COOKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2l, 1933 f@ E z3 l Patented Sept. l, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ELECTRIC COOKING DEVICE John Graver Brogdon and Harris Glenn Cunningham, Atlanta, Ga.

applicationv oetnber zr, 1933, serial No. 694,644 4 claim. (ci. zia-19) l Genetically this invention relates to cooking devices, but -it more especially comprehends the -type of'device where the article to be cooked is mounted in an electricalcircuit and constitutes a resistance for causing a suicient temperature to effect cooking thereof.

One oi' the principal objects of this invention is the provision of an electrical cooking device for meats, meat products and the like, wherein the articleto be cooked is mounted between spaced electrodes of opposite v polarity and adapted to constitute a resistance for producing sulcient temperature to eiIect cooking thereof.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a cooking device .oi-this character for meat articles such as weiners and the like, including a plurality of pairs oi' spaced electrodes mounted in an electrical circuit, and'such respective articles to becooked mounted between each pair, the material of each of the respective articles constituting a resistance adapted to cause sufficient temperature to properly cook said articles. j I

.A further important object of this invention is the provision oian electrical cooking device comprising a plurality of pairs o! electrodes connected-in parallel or series, the articles to be treated being mounted on or between each of the respective-pairs, the'articles themselves constituting resistances in the electrical circuit causing suiticles, and means for individually controlling the flow of current to each pair of electrodes. A Anotherimportant object of this invention is 35 theprovision of an electrical cooking device having a plurality of pairs of electrodes of suitable metal such as steel or the like, each pair adapted to be inserted into ka welner or the like at spaced points, each of the respective weiners constituting a resistance sumcient to effect cooking thereof, meansl in connection with each pair for controlling the flow of current thereto, a cover for said device, and means operable by said cover for automatically and simultaneously controlling 45 the ow of current to all of said electrodes.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an electrical cooking device for weiners and the like comprising a plurality o! xed pairs of electrodes on 'each-pair of whichA a Weiner or article to be treated is adapted to be impaled by simply pressing. down said article thereon and thereby' eliminating the necessity-or adjusting the electrodes for each cooking operation.

the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement oi' parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of 4reference indicate like parts 5 throughout the several iigures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved electric cooking device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan Fig. 3 is a section Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the method oi carrying out the invention.

Briefly, the devices of this general character with which we are familiar in that it is necessary to in some manner adjust the. electrodes to properly contact or support the article to be treated when it is operatively positioned or removed, and the employment of coils which soon burn out is likewise unsatisfactory, and it ywas to overcome such deilciencies and to provide a device requiring no coils, and wherein the electrodes are so constructed and positioned that each article can be expeditiously applied to,

view partly in section. taken on the line 3-3` oi l0 supported by, and removed from a respective pair cient temperature to effect cooking oi said arof electrodes without requiring any adjustment of the same whatsoever, individual means for controlling theflow of current to each pairof electrodes, and means for automatically breaking the circuit to all the electrodes during the appliA 30 cation and removal of the article or articles from the electrodes, that we designed the device forming the subject matter of this invention.

In theillustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a cooking device A comprising a frame B and supporting base C. Base C is formed at each of its corners with a foot l,:and frame B suitably mounted thereon is formed with integral or suitably connected end walls 2 and side walls 3.

suitably mounted on base C are the hook point or electrode supporting walls Il similar to and extending in spaced parallelism with respect to walls 3, and suitably connecting the upper edges of said walls 3 and 4 are the horizontal table top 45 i or shelf members 5 and 6, the former, in the preswith these anemia` objects in view, which` will becomeapparent as the description proceeds,

purpose hereinafter more wider than the latter for a fully appearing. Mounted on one of the walls 4 is a series o! i spaced hook members or electrodes 1 and on the 50 opposite wall I a corresponding series of similar hook membersY or electrodes B. Each oi said members 1 and 8 is suitably insulated and adapted to .be secured to the outer surface of a respective birdinc posts suitably insu- 55 ent instance, being wall 4 by a bolt or have proven decient lo is plugged into lated in said wall and secured by nut I0. Each -of the respective members 1 and 8 extends through a suitable opening II and is formed with a lateral extension I2 adapted to' seat on the upper edge of wall 4 and terminating'in a vertical electric spit point I3. Each food article to be cooked such as Weiner D is impaled onl the points I3 connecting or bridging a I'member 1 -oi.' one series with its opposite member 8 of the other series and closing the circuit through'said pair of electrodes 1 8 as will hereinafter-more fully appear. bers 'I' and 8 as extending through shelf members 5 and 5, it is to be understood that if desired said members may project through walls 4 below members 5 and 6 without departing from the scope or spirit oi this invention.

Suitably mounted on the inner surface of the front side wall 3 opposite each member 1 is a switch mechanism vI4 including binding posts I5 and I6 and a toggle lever I1 adapted to extend through opening I8 formed in said side and slot I9 of switch plate 20 suitably mounted on the outer surface of said side as clearly shown in Figs.Y 1 and 3 of the drawing. y

A lead in Wire or conductor 2| and a return wire orconductor 22 are connected to plug 23 and extend through an insulated covering 24 to a point within base C and through insulating plugs 25 inserted throughthe supporting face 25 thereof. Lead wire 2I is formed with a. series of branch leads or conductors 21 with their free ends suitably connected to binding posts' I5 of the respective switches I4 and a corresponding series of conductors 28 are adapted to connect and be secured by the respective binding lposts I6 on switches I4 and posts 9 of electrodes 1. The return wire or conductor 22 is formed with a series of branch conductors 29 with their free ends secured respectively to binding posts '9 of electrodes 8 by nuts I0 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

A pan 30 is adapted to seat on surface 26 of base C intermediate walls 4 to catch the drippings from food articles D during the cooking process and which may be provided with a rack, if desired, on which may be stacked the cooked articles, and in order to gain ready access to the interior of the device and expeditious removal of pan 30,l one or both ends 2 may be hingedly mounted as at 3| or otherwise suitably'removable.

For purposes of sanitation and not only to keep the articles warm after they have been cooked, bu to prevent any accidental contact of the hands o1 the operator with a Weiner or other food article while the same is acting as a resistance to the ow of the electric current therethrough, a cover 32 preferably constructed from a. transparent material is mounted on frame B hingedly securedas at 33. A suitable switch mechanism E is mounted in trunk line 22, in the present instance of the knife blade type, with socket member 34 connected on opposite sides to wire 22 and suitably mounted on insulating block 35 suitably secured to shelf 6. The'blade portion 36 of said switch is suitably mounted on cover 32, so that the lifting or opening o! cover 32 automatically breaks electrodes, whereby contact with the device and handling of the food articles may be safely and expeditiously effected.

The wiring diagram, Fig. 4, explains the circuit arrangementf'ofthe device. When plug 23 While we have preferably shown memlor sacrificing any of the` circuit to all of the aroor, wall, or likesocket conaosaeio nected to a source of electrical power (not Shown), the voltage supply from 'said source of electrical` energy enters over conductor 2I, conductor 21, switch I4, conductor 28, electrode 1, food article D, or respective food articles, electrode 8, conductor 29, conductor 22, switch E, and conductor 22, back to plug 23, and to sourcel of supply. I

While the operation would seem to be clear from the above description, it might be well to further state that when plug 23 has been operatively positioned, a food article D impaled on points I3 of a pair of electrodes 1 8 and cover 32 closed, a circuit, as above traced, will be closed through the device, the article D not only constituting a, circuit closing means but acts as a resistance to the electric current ow thereby producing suillcient heat to eilect cooking of the Y article as hereinbefore described. 'Die ilow of current may be cut oi to any pair or pairs' of electrodes 1 8 by a respective switch I4. 'Ihe circuits to all of said pairs are automatically opened when cover 32 is in raised or open position, and one or all of said circuits may be closed when said cover is in closed position, depending upon the setting of the respective switches I4 of food articles bridging the respective pairs of electrodes 1 From the above it is apparent that we have designed an electric cooking device, wherein each food article constitutes a circuit closer and acts to the ow of the electric current to effect cooking thereof, one simple in construction, manufacturable and operable at a minimum operation, and eillcient for the purposes intended. l

Although in practice we have found that the form of our invention illustrated in the accomtion.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. An electrical cooking device in the nature each of said parallel members, a switch interposed in the circuit of said electrodes and mounted in one of said sides for opening and closing said circuit, a-transparent coveror said device including a switch means associated therewith,

whereby said circuit is opened when the cover is raised and closed when the cover is closed. 3. An electrical grill-likeoooking device Where- 'in a food product such as a Weiner is adapted to be cooked by having an electrical current pass therethrough comprising a frame including side Walls and parallel members spaced inwardly from the respective sides forming chambers, a series of xed electrodes mounted in each .of the respective chambers extending upwardly and inwardly in meeting direction terminating in vertical points, the opposed electrodes of each series constituting a pair, switch means interposed in the circuit of each pair and mounted in one of said side walis,'and a transparent cover including a switch for simultaneously opening all of said circuits when the cover is in raised position and closing same when in lowered position.

4. An electric grill-like cooking device wherein a food product such as a Weiner is adapted to be cooked by 'an electrical currentpassingtherethrough, comprising a frame including side walls and parallel members spaced inwardly from the respective sides forming chambers and a cen- Itral compartment intermediate the chambers, a

series of xed electrode members mounted in each of the chambers and extending upwardly and inwardly, supported on the upper edges of said parallel members, extending in meeting direction and terminating in vertical points above said central compartment so that a Weiner may,

lowered position, and a switch means interposed in the circuit of each pair mounted in one of 20 said side Walls to selectively open the respective circuits irrespective o the closed position of the first mentioned switch.

JOHN CRAVER BROGDON. HARRIS GLENN CUNNINGHAM. 

